Concept in Definition ABC

Asbestos is actually a mineral natural, specifically calcium magnesium silicate. It is extracted in open pit mines and due to its characteristics it can be transformed into a type of fiber that is used in various applications related to mining. building. In its popular version it is known as asbestos.

A health hazard

If the asbestos fiber is released from any material it is potentially dangerous as it floats in the air and it can reach the interior of our body. Once inhaled, it lodges in the lungs and over time ends up producing lung diseases such as COPD. It is also the cause of mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the cells of the body and each year causes more than 100,000 deaths worldwide.

The effects of asbestos are especially annoying for the body and people who die from its inhalation have painful conditions.

Where is it located?

Homes built prior to 1975 are highly likely to include asbestos and because of this reason many people are in danger

and you don't even know. This material can be found in all kinds of construction elements, such as thermal insulation, boilers, pipes, synthetic tiles, window caulk, roofing materials or cement fibers, among others Many.

Despite the fact that public authorities in most countries have banned its use in the construction sector, old buildings continue to be a danger. On the other hand, it continues to be used in illegal constructions and in underdeveloped countries. Research has been done on the materials used to make boilers and in some cases asbestos has appeared. In any case, its total elimination has a very high cost.

Certain manufacturers claim that it is not a dangerous material, but there are associations that continue to fight to stop this material from being manufactured

This mineral is mined in the Canadian region of Quebec, and manufacturers claim that it is completely safe and harmless. They also maintain that asbestos is not dangerous if it is handled correctly and with the measures of safety adequate. However, certain associations of those affected by asbestos raise their voices and try to make this material totally prohibited.

In the Canadian city of Sarnia there is clear evidence of its damaging effects: a monument public in which all those who died from asbestos inhalation are remembered. Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that thousands of people have died in recent years.

According to recent information, the government Canadian will definitively ban the production of asbestos as of 2018.

Photos: Fotolia - Lin / Maurizio

Asbestos Topics